Symphonic progressive metal band, Mythodea, has announced a new lineup, bringing in a new drummer from Brasil, Pedro Tinello (Almah) and introducing a new vocalist from Italy, Francesco Cavalieri (Wind Rose, Fairyland). Carrying over from the last album is American bassist, Steve Di Giorgio (Testament, Death), and band visionary/composer/guitarist located in Greece, Christos Nikolaou.

A new song, “Disconnected” is being recorded and will be released later this year. Watch some video teasers below from the recording sessions:

Steve Di Giorgio recently signed the worldwide artist deal with Alpha Omega Management, inaugurating the new Alpha Omega Management branch, dedicated to the needs and interests (booking, media, communication, promotion) of session musicians and solo artists.

Watch Steve’s video announcement below:

Steve Di Giorgio doesn’t need any further introductions, as he is widely renowned as a pioneer on the fretless bass in heavy metal music, being the bassist of Testament, Death and Sadus, among others. Within his genre, Steve Di Giorgio is respected for his playing skills, versatility and incredible technique. He has more than 40 studio album recordings and over 20 years of touring the world.

Queen continue to release new lyric videos for their classic songs, this time for “Killer Queen” , featured on the band’s 1974 album, Sheer Heart Attach. Watch the new clip below:

Queen previously released official karaoke style lyric videos for their songs “Don’t Stop Me Now” (with Spanish, Japanese and Italian translations), “We Are The Champions”, “Somebody To Love”, “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “Radio Ga Ga”, “The Show Must Go On”, “I Want It All”, “Don’t Stop Me Now”, “Another One Bites The Dust”, and “We Will Rock You”, all available for streaming below:

Australian black metal band, Norse, have released a lyric video for “Exitus”, a track from their recently released new album, The Divine Light Of A New Sun. Watch the clip below.

The Divine Light Of A New Sun is a tour de force of weirdly rhythmic and catchy black metal while remaining true to its original aura. Virtually peerless, Norse create music that is haunting, incisive and lethal. Albums like these don't come out often. This is the future of black metal, and the future is uncompromising.

About the album in the band's own words: “The Divine Light Of A New Sun is both a call to arms and an exploration into our dark past. It takes us through the birth of the inspirational war machines that led to the advent of the atomic age and into an era of unparalleled destructiveness and limitless potential. The album progresses from the modern age of pervasive mental weakness and lack of discipline to a new age reinforced by the remorseless pursuit of excellence at all costs. We also explore the endless horrors of terrorism among other disturbing subjects I’m certain will resonate with our listeners."

Tracklisting:

“Supreme Vertical Ascent”
“Drowned By Hope”
“Telum Vitae”
“The Divine Light Of A New Sun”
“Exitus”
“Synapses Spun As Silk”
“Sandarkan”
“Arriving In Peace, Pregnant With War”
“Cyclic”

“Exitus” lyric video:

Incorruptible, the 12th studio album from US metal legends Iced Earth, has entered the official album charts in various European territories:

#15 - Germany
#12 - Sweden (physical album charts)
#18 - Austria
#17 - Switzerland
#29 - Belgium (Flemish charts)

Incorruptible has received rave reviews from fans and media, both stating that the band has managed to write a classic metal opus on par with legendary album such as The Dark Saga or Something Wicked This Way Comes.

“Congratulations from Century Media to Iced Earth, one of the most honest, hardest working most dedicated real metal bands on this planet!”

Order your copy of the album here.

The Incorruptible artwork (as well as additional illustrations to every song of the new album) was done by David Newman-Stump from Skeleton Crew Tattoo (pencil illustrations) and Roy Young (colors).

Incorruptible tracklisting:

“Great Heathen Army”
“Black Flag”
“Raven Wing”
“The Veil”
“Seven Headed Whore”
“The Relic (Part 1)”
“Ghost Dance (Awaken The Ancestors)”
“Brothers”
“Defiance”
“Clear The Way (December 13th, 1862)”

“Clear The Way (December 13th, 1862)” lyric video:

“Great Heathen Army” lyric video:

“Raven Wing” lyric video:

“Seven Headed Whore” lyric video:

Iced Earth lineup:

Jon Schaffer - Rhythm, Lead, and Acoustic Guitars, Keyboards/MIDI, Vocals
Stu Block - Lead Vocals
Brent Smedley - Drums, Percussion
Luke Appleton - Bass Guitar, Vocals
Jake Dreyer - Lead Guitar

Welcome back the sweet scent of freedom. Breath in the greeheen! Brant Bjork has come to revive your spirit: The Kyuss and Fu Manchu legend has just announced his first live record ever.

From the opening guitar riff of Europe '16, recorded in Berlin, one can sense the buzz of classic rock electricity that transcends into new spheres. This is controlled madness between trippy and doomy, groovy and sludgy.

Set for release on September 22nd via Napalm Records, Brant Bjork has now revealed the cover artwork and tracklisting of his first live record.

“This record is live. Live records are ugly and they should be. When a band plays live, they let their hair down. Live is all that really matters. There are those moments in life when everything is ok and these are the moments when you are doing exactly what your here on the planet to do. You're right where you are supposed to be with no shame, no fear, no regret, no envy, no hatred and no apology. I always say this band brings a feeling. The feeling is always primary and the sound, secondary. At least to me. In the book of Tao, there is a passage..."naming is the origin of all particular things". I use here the term ugly to refer to my naming of my particular relationship with my soundscape. my my my. Why the term ugly? Because its the opposite of pretty. As the popular saying goes, "It is what it is". As for my music, my band and this live record, I prefer to say, "it is what it isn't".” - Brant Bjork on Europe '16.

Tracklisting:

“Buddha Time”
“Controllers Destroyed”
“Humble Pie”
“Stakt”
“The Gree Heen”
“Lazy Bones-Automatic Fantastic”
“Stokely Up Now”
“Dave's War-Dave's Peace”
“Biker No. 2”
“Freaks Of Nature”
“Low Desert Punk”
“Let The Truth Be Known-Jumpin' Jack Flash”

Whenever Brant Bjork turns on his fuzz pedals on stage, you can always count on him, as he delivers lush stoner rock with balls of steel, winged by vivid guitar solos and his creaking whiskey tinged voice. His psychedelic melodies raise to huge groove monsters. The air feels dry from the dust; the inner eye witnesses the setting sun morphing the desert sand into a glowing sea. Europe '16 lives from exquisite desert rock grade A. Live and pure.

And to also celebrate his first live record ever, Brant Bjork has just announced many more tour dates for this year. Catch the king of the desert live in Europe on the following dates:

August
4 - Almiros Magnisias, Greece - Los Amiros Festival
5 - Waldhausen, Austria - Lake on Fire
6 - Budapest, Hungary - Tixa
8 - Hamburg, Germany - Sommer in Altona
9 - Stuttgart, Germany - Universum
10 - Duedingen / Bad Bonn
12 - Kortrijk, Belglium - Alcatraz Festival
14 - Martigny, Switzerland - PALP Festival

Gree Heen Europe 2017 (with special guest Sean Wheeler):

September
26 - Stockholm, Sweden - Debaser Strand
27 - Stavange, Norway - Folken
28 - Oslo, Norway - John Dee
29 - Gothenbourg, Sweden - Sticky Fingers
30 - Copenhagen, Denmark - KB 18

October
1 - Hamburg, Germany - Logo
2 - Leipzig, Germany - UT Connewitz
3 - Bielefeld, Germany - Forum
4 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Melkweg
5 - Eindhoven, Netherlands - Effenaar
6 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Up In Smoke
7 - Aschaffenburg, Germany - Colossal
8 - Brussels, Belgium - Botanique
9 - Rennes, France - Ubu
11 - Bilbao, Spain - Kafe Antzokia
12 - Porto, Portugal - Cave 45
13 - Lisbon, Portugal - RCA Club
14 - Madrid, Spain - Caracol
15 - Barcelona, Spain - Bikini
16 - Marseille, France - Jas Rod
17 - Torino, Italy - Blah Blah
18 - Ravenna, Italy - Bronson
19 - Zagreb, Croatia - Vintage Industrial Bar
20 - Wien, Austria - Arena (with Stoned Jesus + Beastmaker)
21 - Munich, Germany - Keep It Low

(Photo - Kip Dawkins)

"Miss Me", the new video from Swiss hard rock veterans GOTTHARD, can be seen below. The clip was directed by Martin Häusler.

"Miss Me" is taken from GOTTHARD's twelfth studio album, "Silver", which was released on January 13 on Musikvertrieb in Switzerland and internationally via PIAS. The CD was recorded at the Yellow House Studio in Lugano. The third disc with lead singer Nic Maeder was produced by Charlie Bauerfeind (HELLOWEEN, BLIND GUARDIAN) and Leo Leoni.

Regarding working with Bauerfeind again, GOTTHARD said: "We were all very happy with the workflow and the result of the 'BANG!' production — so it was pretty clear that we wanted to give the great collaboration another shot!"

GOTTHARD's 2012 album, "Firebirth", marked the band's first release with singer Nic Maeder, who was born in Lausanne, Switzerland, lived in Melbourne, Australia and grew up between Switzerland and "Down Under."

GOTTHARD's previous vocalist, Steve Lee, was killed on October 5, 2010 in what has been described as a freak road accident in Nevada.

Fan-filmed video footage of GUNS N' ROSES' July 1 performance at Kantolan Tapahtumapuisto in Hämeenlinna, Finland can be seen below (video shot and uploaded by Alex Kornyshev).

Featured songs:

* It's So Easy* Welcome To The Jungle* Estranged* Live And Let Die (WINGS cover)* You Could Be Mine* This I Love* Civil War* Yesterdays* Slash Guitar Solo* Sweet Child O' Mine* November Rain* Black Hole Sun (SOUNDGARDEN cover)* Knockin' On Heaven's Door (Bob Dylan cover) * Don't Cry* Paradise City

GUNS N' ROSES recently made Forbes magazine's "Celebrity 100" list of the world's top-earning entertainers for the first time. The band landed at No. 12 with earnings of $84 million in the past twelve months, before taxes and fees for managers.

The "Not In This Lifetime" tour has grossed more than $230 million since launching in April 2016, according to Billboard.

That figure includes a $38 million haul from eight concerts in Australia and New Zealand, but does not account for earnings from seven Asian markets that the band visited during the first quarter of 2017.

One of the stops on the Australian trek, a two-night stand in Sydney, was the fourth biggest of the entire tour, pulling in $9.2 million from a total of 84,277 tickets sold.

The top earner on the tour remains a two-night stop in New York City, where 100,177 fans forked over $11.6 million.

Last summer's North American leg, which featured 25 stadium shows in 21 cities, grossed a whopping $116.8 million with over one million tickets sold.

The "Not In This Lifetime" tour features classic GUNS members Slash on guitar, Duff McKagan on bass and Axl Rose on vocals, backed by drummer Frank Ferrer, guitarist Richard Fortus, keyboardist Dizzy Reed and second keyboardist Melissa Reese.

The band, with this same lineup, will come back to North America for at least another 15 stadium dates this summer, starting on July 27 in St. Louis and ending on September 8 in San Antonio.

GUNS kicked off its long-rumored and long-awaited reunion trek in April 2016 with a club show in Hollywood and appearances in Las Vegas and at California's Coachella festival.

This summer marks the 30th anniversary of the release of GUNS N' ROSES' classic debut album, "Appetite For Destruction", which arrived on July 21, 1987.

IN THIS MOMENT was joined by MOTIONLESS IN WHITE singer Chris "Motionless" Cerulli for a performance of the Maria Brink-fronted outfit's new song "Black Wedding" on July 3 at Freedom Hall / Lancaster Convention Center in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. You can watch fan-filmed video footage of the collaboration below.

"Black Wedding" is taken from IN THIS MOMENT's new album, "Ritual", which will be released on July 21. The group's sixth studio effort was produced by longtime collaborator — and multiple Grammy Award nominee — Kevin Churko (FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, OZZY OSBOURNE) and will be made available by Atlantic Records in partnership with Roadrunner Records.

The studio recording of "Black Wedding" sees Brink sharing the mic with legendary JUDAS PRIEST frontman Rob Halford. Another highlight is a dramatic reimagination of the Phil Collins classic "In The Air Tonight". "It's like we're going into the next realm," said Brink about the upcoming album. "I had a conviction of feeling empowered in my life and with myself. I always write from a personal place, and I needed to share that sense of strength. I've never been afraid to hold back. Sometimes I can be very suggestive. However, I wanted to show our fans that this is the most powerful side of myself and it's without overt sexuality. It's that deeper serious fire inside of my heart." "When fans hear this, I want them to feel the music, whether they take away sadness, anger, or happiness," added lead guitarist Chris Howorth. "As a kid, I remember listening to records and putting them on repeat over and over again. I'd love for the world to listen and absorb this as a piece of work." IN THIS MOMENT's current North American tour features support from MOTIONLESS IN WHITE, VIMIC, LITTLE MISS NASTY and STARSET.

"Factory Of Death", the new video from the Serbian all-girl metal band JENNER, can be seen below. The clip was filmed by Igor Stanić of Graveyard Neighbour Photogaphy and edited by Mina Petrović of Drumwitch Video.

"Factory Of Death" is taken from JENNER's debut album, "To Live Is To Suffer", which was released on February 20 via Infernö Records.

Formed in December 2013, JENNER is said to be the only all-girl metal band from the Belgrade area.

"To Live Is To Suffer" was made available as a CD and cassette tape, with both formats limited to 1,000 copies each.

The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. Factory Of Death02. Hear The Thunder Roar03. Demon's Call04. The Heath Is Coming Again05. On The Judgement Day06. How Deep Is Your Greed07. Silent Killer08. Opened (On The Table)

JENNER released a two-song demo in 2015.

JENNER is:

Anđelina Mitić (vocals)Aleksandra Stamenković (guitar)Mina Petrović (bass)Marija Dragićević (drums)

Legendary English guitarist John Sykes (TYGERS OF PAN TANG, THIN LIZZY, WHITESNAKE, BLUE MURDER, SYKES) will release his first album in seventeen years, "Sy-Ops", before the end of 2017.

The tentative track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. Dawning Of A Brand New Day02. Believe In Yourself03. My Guitar04. Out Alive05. Jammin'06. Six String Gun07. Howlin' N' Moanin'08. Slave09. Who Are You10. Gates Of Hell

The 57-year-old completed the material for the disc three years ago. "But then my manager died," he explained. "With him I lost someone I could really trust. So I put the disc on ice."

Sykes added that his first album since 2000's "Nuclear Cowboy" will live up to his fans' expectations. "People who like what I did on the 1987 [self-titled album] from WHITESNAKE and the two studio records from BLUE MURDER" will be pleased by the new material, he said.

The new album will be released in a digipak format with a full-color six-panel artwork courtesy of David Dees.

The CD reportedly features guest appearances by the following musicians:

* Josh Freese (WEEZER, A PERFECT CIRCLE, GUNS N' ROSES, DEVO): Drums* Tony Franklin (THE FIRM): Bass* Chris Chaney (JANE'S ADDICTION): Bass* Jamie Muhoberac (THE ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS, FLEETWOOD MAC, THE ROLLING STONES): Keyboards

Sykes's much-hyped collaborative project with drummer Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD, ADRENALINE MOB) came to an abrupt end in January 2012. Portnoy later blamed the split on the fact that he "couldn't wait around any longer" for Sykes to get ready to enter the studio.

Sykes announced his departure from THIN LIZZY in July 2009, explaining that "I feel it's time to get back to playing my own music."

Artwork and tracklist of John Sykes's "SY-OPS" Photography by James Sykeshttps://t.co/UbEgfiV0Jc … pic.twitter.com/syKJ9dyGgu

— Jill (@yurixanex) June 12, 2017

Fan-filmed video footage of VUUR, the new band featuring renowned Dutch vocalist Anneke Van Giersbergen, performing at the 20th-anniversary edition of the Tuska festival, which took place June 30 - July 2 in Helsinki, Finland, can be seen below.

VUUR's as-yet-untitled debut album is due in the fall via InsideOut Music.

In December 2016, Anneke announced the formation of a brand new band under the name of VUUR, created as a vehicle for the heavy progressive metal side of her career.

Anneke commented: "For a long time, I've wanted to make a kind of concept album about the cities we've visited, because we tour so much and see so many countries and cities. I often have a strong feeling for a city. It can be anything — sometimes I visualize a city as a man or a character, or sometimes something happened in that city and I want to write about that."

In early 2016, Anneke decided for the sake of clarity to narrow her musical focus, choosing to go in a folk acoustic direction as a solo artist and in a heavy progressive metal direction as a band vocalist. The name VUUR — translated from Dutch as "fire", which can also be interpreted to mean "passion" or "drive" — was chosen as a moniker to represent Anneke's metal side, with the idea that when fans buy a ticket with the VUUR name on it they will be getting her heavy progressive music, while an Anneke Van Giersbergen show will be entirely different.

"It's like I'm searching for contradictions," Anneke said of splitting her focus in two. "I want the heavy to be really heavy, and the soft acoustic stuff that I can do can be almost silent and inward. I'm trying to find those outer limits. I'm still writing and collaborating with different people, so VUUR's style is still kind of different from THE GATHERING and THE GENTLE STORM. You could say VUUR's music has the melancholy of THE GATHERING and lots of elements from THE GENTLE STORM, but it's a bit darker with fewer folk elements. It's still melodic and warm, but heavy."

The band shares some members with THE GENTLE STORM live band, and you can find the full lineup below:

* Anneke Van Giersbergen (ex-THE GATHERING) - lead vocals* Ed Warby (HAIL OF BULLETS, AYREON, ex-GOREFEST) - Drums* Jord Otto (MY PROPANE, ex-REVAMP) - Guitar* Ferry Duijsens - Guitar* Johan Van Stratum (STREAM OF PASSION) - Bass

Anneke commented: "The band has a different name, because the music will be slightly different from THE GENTLE STORM, but most band members are still involved and the music will be heavy too, so in that perspective not a lot will change, especially in the live situation. I think people will really embrace VUUR as a live band because there are nothing but stars in this band. [Laughs] They're some of the best heavy metal players in Holland so I didn't want to let them go."

Fan-filmed video footage of IRON MAIDEN's entire July 1 concert at Glen Helen Amphitheater San Bernardino, California can be seen below.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. If Eternity Should Fail02. Speed Of Light03. Wrathchild04. Children Of The Damned05. Death Or Glory06. The Red And The Black07. The Trooper08. Powerslave09. The Great Unknown10. The Book Of Souls11. Fear Of The Dark12. Iron Maiden

Encore:

13. The Number Of The Beast14. Blood Brothers15. Wasted Years

IRON MAIDEN guitarist Dave Murray recently said that the band had no plans to retire after the completion of "The Book Of Souls" world tour. "We're not stopping after this tour; this isn't the last tour by any means," he told The Press-Enterprise. "We're going to finish this one out, which we're having a lot of fun [doing], and then we're going to take some time off and next year there's going to be some surprises."

When asked how he would feel if MAIDEN suddenly came to an end, Dave said: "If it was to finish tomorrow, I think I could say quite honestly that I've been very happy and very lucky and have done everything, enjoyed most of it, because of all the places we've traveled to, you'd never go there. We're lucky enough in that respect to see the world several times over by being on tour. That in itself has been a great experience and also playing music and being able to express ourselves in a melodic form, an aggressive form and just have fun with that. The future, there's still things to do so you just keep inventing new things all the time, try to create new things every day."

MAIDEN's "The Book Of Souls" world tour has been going on since early 2016 and has just returned to North America. The band's Mayan-themed set sees Eddie, MAIDEN's omnipresent mascot, having his heart torn out of his chest by singer Bruce Dickinson, who throws the heart into the crowd.

"The Book Of Souls" is MAIDEN's first ever double studio album and their most successful chart-wise to date, debuting at the No. 1 spot in over 40 countries around the world and No. 4 in the U.S.A.

Ex-CHILDREN OF BODOM guitarist Roope Latvala says that he was "stabbed in the back" by his former bandmates.

Latvala was a member of CHILDREN OF BODOM for more than a decade before being fired in May 2015. His exit came just as the band was preparing to enter the studio to begin recording its latest album, "I Worship Chaos".

In his first interview since his split from CHILDREN OF BODOM, Latvala revealed that he was dimissed from the group on the very day he was scheduled to join his then-bandmates for the start of the "Chaos" recording sessions. His termination from BODOM came as such a shock that he didn't touch play his instrument for two years as he started drinking more heavily to cope with his feelings of dejection and discouragement.

"I really feel stabbed in the back by those guys," Roope told Finland's YLE. "I've been bitter at those guys. I was fired without an explanation."

Roope added that he felt that "CHILDREN OF BODOM's success had gone to" frontman Alexi Laiho's head and that Alexi started to "look down on" him for reasons that weren't quite clear to him.

As a result of being fired, Roope fell into a major depression and "started to focus on drinking."

"I couldn't touch my guitars," Roope said. "It was as if it was forbidden for me to play guitar."

According to the YLE report, Roope just recently dug out "a couple of Les Pauls" and stated composing a whole bunch of new tracks, which he is excited about.

Laiho addressed Latvala's departure from CHILDREN OF BODOM during an August 2015 interview with Artisan News, He stated at the time: "We were at a phase where we wanted to, sort of, have a new beginning and reinvent ourselves, on a certain level. And everybody — all four of us — were pushing it harder and putting more effort on the band and just working extra, extra hard. And he wasn't quite there with us, you know, as far as the level of work ethics and, you know, stuff like that. So we felt like everyone's better off if we part ways at this point, and that's what happened. And, yeah, it [happened] three days before we hit the studio [to record 'I Worship Chaos'], but it was not… I mean, it was something that everybody was sort of anticipating already. And I had… To be honest, I had decided, a month or so before that, that I was gonna do all the guitars on the album. Because, like I said, it wasn't just working out with him."

He continued: "I don't wanna talk shit or anything; it's just that that happens. It's life. And you can't dwell on it. It sucks. It really does, man. He was around for twelve years, and, for us, the band, it really is a family, and losing a member, it's a big deal for us. 'Cause we're not the type of band [where] we change members every other week. But, you know, you've gotta move on. And that's that, really."

CHILDREN OF BODOM in 2015 recruited Antti Wirman, the younger brother of the band's keyboardist Janne Wirman, to handle second-guitar duties for some of their shows. BODOM has since named Daniel Freyberg (NAILDOWN, NORTHER) a permanent replacement for Latvala.

In a 2016 interview with Ultimate Guitar, Laiho spoke about Freyberg's addition to CHILDREN OF BODOM. He said: "I've actually known him for over ten years. He's played in a couple bands so I always knew he could play guitar. When we started looking for a new member, or at least somebody to do the shows with, we tried out a couple guys who didn't live in Finland and it didn't work out and this guy, he was right there and he just informally brought it up, like, 'Hey, if you guys need any help, let me know.' I hadn't heard him play in a while, so I had him send me a video with a couple of riffs to see if he could still play, and he rocks. He's a hard-working dude. He's a quick learner, and so far it's been awesome."

Laiho added that there is a lot more to being in a band than just playing ability.

"When you think about it, the playing part is such a small part of being in a band because the playing should be there no matter what," he said. "Being in a band is more about having people you get along with. We're the kind of band who is constantly on the road, so you do basically live with each other so it's super important that we get along. If there's one guy that bums another guy out, it can be pretty destructive. I've seen that happen to so many bands, and I don't want that around."

Don de Leaumont of The Great Southern Brainfart recently conducted an interview with GREAT WHITE guitarist Mark Kendall. A couple of exerpts from the chat follow below.

The Great Southern Brainfart: Michael Wagener produced your latest album, "Full Circle", and he really managed to capture a more classic sound from the band. Did this come natural and how much of a role did he play into this?

Mark: "It wasn't intentional at all because we just wrote like we always do. We didn't change a thing. Obviously, the production is top-shelf stuff. When you walk into Wagener's studio, you're just blinded by platinum records. He's worked with everybody. One thing he did do was made me feel at ease. When he's recording with you, he makes you feel so good. We got really good performances. He just made us feel really comfortable.

The Great Southern Brainfart: I'm sure his old-school way of doing things probably gelled with you guys a lot more than say the new way of a younger producer.

Mark: "Exactly. He doesn't use Auto-Tune or anything. He just tells you to play it again until you get it right. He'll say, 'Don't sing flat!' [Laughs] I like to believe and trust my ears enough that when I listen to something, if it sounds good than it is good. If the computer says it's not good, then so what? We're not computers. We're human beings and we like the way music sounds. If it sounds good, it's good. If you start judging things by what it says on the computer, you're going to wind up sounding like a machine. What works best for us is when we all play together and everything usually works out. It has nothing to do with computers."

The Great Southern Brainfart: Do you like recording digitally vs. analog or vice versa?

Mark: "I have no problem with recording on computers. I actually like it. It's just a quicker way to record for me. When we were working with two-inch tape, it took so long to do the simplest edit. Now, with the click of a mouse, it's done. You can make records so much quicker now. It keeps things moving along and you're not stopping and starting so much. I hate taking these huge breaks for something to happen. I like to keep the momentum and the energy up."

The Great Southern Brainfart: As a veteran of the scene, you've seen the music business change, digress, come back to life, and all in between. What is your take on the current state of the industry?

Mark: "Well, you really need a lot of people on your team that know the Internet really well. It's a lot more difficult to get your music to the people, because we don't have all the mediums we used to. We're not on the radio and we're not on MTV every five seconds all over country. When you take all of that away, we still have the fans and they still come to the shows but a lot of them might not know that we have a new record out. I'm just totally into making new music because we're always challenging ourselves to get better. That's our whole momentum and the whole reason we're still here. We just want to keep writing and keep doing something good and maybe even a little better than we did the last time. There's not a lot of forums for new music, but when people hear the latest album, we're getting great feedback from it. We're just doing the best we can to get our new music heard. We still have our history that we're proud of and grateful for but to keep our energy where it needs to be, we need to keep making new music."

Read the entire interview at The Great Southern Brainfart.

Photo credit: Neil Zlozower

In a new interview with eonMusic, Devin Townsend discusses life, music, and Ziltoid the Omniscient. An excerpt from the chat follows:

Q: One of your most recognizable creations is Ziltoid; have you and fan and Metalocalypse creator Brendon Small ever spoken about a bringing Ziltoid to life?

Townsend: “We've never talked about Ziltoid in that capacity. He has mentioned to me that he took inspiration from Ziltoid for the Galaktikon [‘audio comic book’ album] thing. But the main thing is; I don't care. It's not that I don't like the concept, or that I don't like the characters, it's just that I'm not compelled to take it further than it has been. I think that’s the risk with these kind of things; you find something that's interesting, and then you have a team of people who end up monetizing it, and by the end of it, the fun is sucked out of it because it becomes this job.”

Q: So is that the end for Zildoid?

Townsend: “Making a Ziltoid cartoon on top of all the stuff I'm already doing is 'work'. I think we’re going to make a video game though, so that's something. There's a Swedish company that presented some ideas, and it seems really cool.”

Read the full interview at eonmusic.co.uk/a>.

Known for directing and editing Attack of Life: The Bang Tango Movie, as well as becoming guitarist for Bang Tango, his film's subject, Drew Fortier is a true Renaissance man in the music world. From forming the new band Zen From Mars with members of Kik Tracee, Enuff Z'Nuff, and Fear Factory, to doing video work for Vince Neil, Slaughter, and Queensryche. Drew is also the Operations Co-ordinator for Megadeth bassist David Ellefson's record label EMP Label Group.

Just announced, Drew Fortier has been cast in the upcoming erotic horror movie, Her Name Was Christa. 

Buffalora Entertainment Group presents a timeless love story about a man and a woman... who just happens to be dead. Her Name Was Christa is a romantic horror film that dares to ask the question "Is there sex after death?" Her Name Was Christa also reunites actors James L. Edwards and Ariauna Albright, stars of Bloodletting and Polymorph, for the first time in twenty years.

Drew Fortier will be playing Nick - an obnoxious yet loveable co-worker of the film's lead character who convinces Stephen to voyage into the world of love for sale with terrifying results. "I am extremely excited to venture into acting and to be working with James L. Edwards," says Fortier. "I am a huge fan of his work in Bloodletting. This is sure to be a very memorable film!"

Set to begin filming in late August, Her Name Was Christa is scheduled for release on February 14, 2018 - Valentine's Day. For further details, visit the movie's official Facebook page.

A lyric video for “Obsession”, a track from Pyramaze’s Contingent album is available for streaming below. The album is out now via Inner Wound Recordings.

With their milestone fifth album, Contingent, Pyramaze have grown and matured into a band that is capable of satisfying their fans while simultaneously continuing to break new ground. The incorporation of modern cinematic film score elements mixed with progressive metal riffs and melodies will leave the listener breathless! Huge, sweeping, hard-hitting, and poignant, Contingent is an epic post-apocalyptic conceptual piece inspired by current events, the human spirit to overcome struggle and diversity, and the brotherhood that lies there in. Produced, mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Amaranthe, Epica, Evergrey).

"Divided by oceans, bound together by brotherhood, we must become that which divides us.... we are Pyramaze, and we are the Ocean!"

Contingent tracklisting:

“Land Of Information”
“Kingdom Of Solace”
“Star Men”
“A World Divided”
“Nemesis”
“Contingent - Part I: The Campaign”
“20 Second Century”
“Obsession”
“Heir Apparent”
“Contingent - Part II: The Hammer Of Remnant”
“Under Restraint”
“The Tides That Won't Change”
“Symphony Of Tears”

“Obsession” lyric video:

“The Tides That Won’t Change” lyric video:

“Star Men” lyric video:

“A World Divided” video:

“Kingdom Of Solace” lyric video:

“20 Second Century” lyric video:

Pyramaze lineup:

Terje Harøy - Vocals
Jacob Hansen - Guitars, Bass
Jonah W. - Keyboards
Toke Skjønnemand - Guitars
Morten Gade Sørensen - Drums

 

On August 25, Finnish cinemascope metallers CRIMFALL will release their new album, "Amain", via Metal Blade Records.

The disc's first single, "The Last Of Stands", can be streamed below.

CRIMFALL comments: "We couldn't be happier to publish a meaty sample from our forthcoming album. This massive six years of production is finally seeing the light of day and we are more than proud about what we have accomplished. At the same time, we would like to extend our deepest gratitude to all those dozens of volunteers who have been contributing and helping us to see it through one more battle in CRIMFALL history.

"The first single, 'The Last of Stands', represents the most vigorous and pompous side of the album. Expect to be steamrolled from the first note as we unleash the frustration of past years in a single unforgiving assault. Victory or death!"

"Amain" is CRIMFALL's most ambitious album yet, combining familiar elements with fresh inspiration, and wreathed in massive crisp production from Fascination Street Studios. Featuring music that spans from monumental orchestrations to songs whispered over fading pyres, "Amain" contains layers upon layers of grand melodies woven between jagged shadows. On this new release, CRIMFALL also continues to sing the stories of wars waged in vain, advocating freedom from religious dogmas and the bloody chains of tradition.

"Amain" track listing:

01. Eschaton02. The Last of Stands03. Ten Winters Apart - pt1. Far From Any Fate04. Ten Winters Apart - pt2. Song of Mourn05. Ten Winters Apart - pt3. Sunder the Seventh Seal06. Ten Winters Apart - pt4. Dawn Without a Sun07. Mother of Unbelievers08. It's a Long Road09. Wayward Verities10. Until Falls the Rain

CRIMFALL lineup:

Mikko Hakkinen - Vocals Helena Haaparanta - Vocals Jakke Viitala - GuitarsMiska Sipilainen - Bass Janne Jukarainen - Drums

Melodic hard rock band, Ten, will release their new album, Gothica on July 7th. The new album promises to be one of their strongest collection of songs to date. It is full of all the trademark textures and flavors we have come to expect from Ten, arguably one of the best and most consistent melodic hard rock bands in the genre. A video for the new song “Travellers” is available for streaming below.

Gothica proudly displays all the hallmarks of classic Ten albums and will surely continue to build upon the rich legacy that the great British rockers have forged over a career spanning 22 years and counting.

Gothica emerges as their darkest album to date. Embracing history, romance and erotic horror in equal measure as it does, the title proves to be a fitting name. As listeners, we are transported from the darker side of human nature to the nocturnal supernatural, a dramatic realm of nightmares and the forbidden. Gothica is cinematic in every sense of the word. A web of musically elaborate spells, evoking embers that spark the imagination courtesy of the classic song writing of vocalist Gary Hughes.

Of the album, Gary says, "I am extremely pleased with the collection of songs on Gothica as they feel like they belong together. The band are firing on all cylinders once again and it is a gift to the army of fans everywhere who have relentlessly supported us over the years. It is ironically fitting that our 13th studio album should be a little more sinister, at the same time retaining all the commercial traits usually associated with a Ten album."

Following their success on the recent albums Albion and Isla De Muerta, Gary Hughes is joined once again by guitarists Dann Rosingana, Steve Grocott and John Halliwell along with bass player Steve McKenna, keyboard maestro Darrel Treece-Birch, and drummer Max Yates. On their third outing as a collective unit, the musicians in Ten have raised the bar even higher than they had previously. The album is full of stunning guitar work over a rich keyboard, bass, and drum tapestry with Hughes’ vocals once again bringing the nuances of the intricate lyrics to life.

Gothica was produced by Gary Hughes and mixed and mastered by Dennis Ward. Ten’s longstanding professional association with Dennis has been ongoing since he mixed their 2011 album, Stormwarning.

Additionally, the album features stunning original artwork by Stan W. Decker, depicting a beautiful enchantress reading incantations from a book whilst summoning shadowy characters from its pages. Stan has cleverly illustrated the piece in order to portray the characters emerging from the books pages as the actual characters from the songs on the album. The atmospheric sleeve photography is once again provided by the remarkably talented Adrian Ashworth.

Tracklisting:

“The Grail”
“Jekyll And Hyde”
“Travellers”
“Man For All Seasons”
“In My Dreams”
“The Wild King Of Winter”
“Paragon”
“Welcome To The Freak Show”
“La Luna Dra-cu-la”
“Into Darkness”

“Travellers” video;

“La Luna Dra-cu-la” lyric video:

“Paragon”:

Ten is:

Gary Hughes - Vocals, Backing Vocals, Guitar, Bass and Programming
Dann Rosingana - Guitar
Steve Grocott - Guitar
John Halliwell - Guitar
Steve McKenna - Bass Guitar
Darrel Treece-Birch - Keyboards
Max Yates - Drums and Percussion

Additional Backing Vocals - Karen Fell

Gothic metal was stillborn in the late ‘80s. But some 28 years ago a band left unforgettable trails in the Swedish underground scene with a unique take on the doom genre. Stillborn combined a gloomy and darkened sound with the aesthetics of gothic rock, almost as straight out of an old horror movie.

Now the members have reunited and recorded a new album in the same spirit as their legendary debut Necrospirituals. Ten songs were written for the album, aptly titled Nocturnals and it was recorded and mixed at Studio Juicy Halftone in Copenhagen by Henrik Stendahl.

With a refined sound, Stillborn will please their old fans that have been yearning for a new album as well as get new ones. In essence, this is Stillborn as we know them; sinister, eerie and with a subtile morbid twist.

The new offering is scheduled to be released on Black Lodge/Sound Pollution this fall and is preceded with the single "Lorelei", out today.

The band also aims to conduct a tour in connection with the release.

Quote from the band:

“We thought this spark had burnt out but once again, the sun explodes. A new dawn is rising.”

(Photo by: Rickard Dahlen)

Mindscar have parted ways with drummer Robbie Young and have now added second guitarist Alyssa Day (Visioner) and new drummer Tom Beheler (Path To Prevail). The new line-up is currently working on pre-production for their upcoming release, which will be titled Nine Knives. 

Band founder Richie Brown commented "I'm really excited to have Alyssa and Tom in the band. They both bring so much to the table musically. It has already been so much fun working with them both on the new material and I can't wait for people to experience this live!"  

Check out the band’s last release, What’s Beyond The Light via the Bandcamp player below:

What's Beyond The Light by Mindscar

(Photo by: FXO Photography)

French heavy/power metal band, Öblivïon, (featuring former Nightmare members) have signed with European label ROAR! Rock Of Angels Records. Öblivïon's debut album Resilience, includes 11 tracks and was recorded, mixed and mastered by Pat Liotard (Nightmare, Now Or Never).

Öblivïon is representing the "Dream Team" of heavy metal's musicians in France! Jo Amore, David Amore and Steff Rabilloud (three former members of Nightmare) joined by Markus Fortunato, bassist 6-string soloist from metal-neoclassical (Fortunato, ex-MZ) and the shredder Flo Lagoutte - a new guitar hero - coming from the metal extreme scene (Forsaken World).

Due to its original and timeless compositions, the quintet is proud to raise the flag of the melodic metal through solid, lyrical, powerful and excellent melodic songs, presenting by twin-guitars, hooks, unrestrained, speedy pace, with symphonic, progressive elements and great lyrics. When classical hard rock meets a mix of modern sounding metal production.

On this first opus, the amazing voice of Jo Amore (Now Or Never, former member of Nightmare) has never been so crystalline and raging, magnified by the most charming melodies, he has never sung before, with a lyricism as its top.

Öblivïon is:

Jo Amore - Vocals (Now Or Never, Temple Of Dio, ex-Nightmare)
David Amore - Drums & Machines (ex-Nightmare)
Markus Fortunato - Bass (Fortunato, ex MZ)
Steff Rabilloud - Guitars (Urgent, Hey Stoopids, Eye On Maiden, ex-Nightmare)
Florian Lagoutte - Guitars (ex Despairhate, ex-Fenrir, Forsaken World)

On July 1st, former Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy brought his Shattered Fortress tour to Paris, France. Fan-filmed video from the show at Le Trianon is available below.

The setlist on the night was as follows:

"Overture 1928"
"Strange Déjà Vu"
"The Mirror"

Twelve-Step Suite:
"The Glass Prison"
"This Dying Soul"
"The Root of All Evil"
"Repentance"
"The Shattered Fortress"

Encore:
"Home"
"The Dance of Eternity"
"Finally Free"

Portnoy recently checked in with the following update:

"You can take MP out of DT, but you can't take DT out of MP...

I've spent the last 6 & 1/2 years doing a million things that have NOTHING to do with Dream Theater, making all different kinds of music with so many great musicians but intensionally NOT playing or revisiting DT material. But now for the remainder of 2017 in celebration of my 50th Birthday, and as my gift back to you, I am finally ready to pay tribute to my past and revisit this music!

These Shattered Fortress shows will be a fully-immersive MP/DT experience. The type of show, setlist and environment that I always delivered to you great fans for all of those 25 years between 1985 to 2010. Everything from the house music when you enter the venue (cool rarities taken from my extensive DT archives) to the rare DT-era MP items I will have at the merchandise stand, even down to my stage clothes from previous DT tours that I will pulling out of retirement from my closet! (I hope they still fit!! Hahaha...). All leading up to the incredible show & setlist I have prepared for you...

Delivered by some of the best musicians in prog today (the amazing Haken along with prog's newest guitar hero, Eric Gillette) all playing this music with loving passion and extreme precision. For those of you that constantly post about missing me in DT, this is your chance to revisit those days with me.

Once the clock strikes 2018, I will be returning to all of the other bands and music in my life: Flying Colors, Transatlantic, The Neal Morse Band, The Winery Dogs, Metal Allegiance, and my brand new all-star band with Derek Sherinian.

For all of you that have been posting online for the past 6 years wanting to see me to "go back to DT", unless those guys have a change of heart, it seems this is the closest you are going to get!

There are no guarantees for tomorrow...there's only today! So, I am seizing the fuck out of the day... : )

This is the ONLY (and possibly last??) chance to share the DT experience with me and hear me play this music again.. THIS IS IT...CARPE DIEM!!

The biggest show of the tour at the 013 in Holland is already sold out! That means most a lot of others will as well, so get your tickets now to insure a spot in sharing these wonderful memories with me and celebrating my 50th Birthday with this music that was such a huge part of my life."

Portnoy recently updated his master list of shows in 2017. Check it out below:

With MP's Shattered Fortress:

July
3 - Esch Sur Alzette, Luxemburg - Kulturfabrick
4 - Milan, Italy - Teatro Della Luna
5 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7
6 - Tilburg, Holland - 013
8 - Tel Aviv, Israel - Teatre Club
11 - Moscow, Russia - Yotaspace
12 - St Petersburg, Russia - Aurora
14- Loreley, Germany - Night Of The Prog

With The Neal Morse Band:

August
17- Minneapolis, MN - Amsterdam Hall
18 - Chicago, IL - House Of Blues
19 - Detroit, MI - St Andrew's Hall
20 - Pittsburgh, PA - Mr Smalls Theater
22 - New York City, NY - Gramercy Theater
24 - Boston, MA - Wilbur Theater
25 - Ridgefield, CT - Ridgefield Playhouse
26 - Glendale, PA - Keswick Theater
27 - Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Soundstage

September
1 - Cross Plains, TN - Morsefest 2017
2 - Cross Plains, TN - Morsefest 2017

With MP's Shattered Fortress:

September
8 - Atlanta, GA - Prog Power USA
10 - Mexico City, Mexico - El Plaza Condesa
24 - New York City, NY - Irving Plaza

With Metal Allegiance:

October 29 through November 2 - Cancun, Mexico - Metal Maya

With MP's Shattered Fortress:

November
16 - Auckland, New Zealand - The Studio
18 - Brisbane, Australia - Tivoli
20 - Perth, Australia - Astor Theater
22 - Adelaide, Australia - The Gov
24 - Sydney, Australia - Metro Theater
25 - Melbourne, Australia - The Croxton

For Shattered Fortress ticket links go to this location.

Norwegian metal legends Emperor played Spain for the first time in their career on July 1st at Rockfest Barcelona 2017. Fan-filmed video is available below.

Norwegian black metal heavyweights Emperor recently announced a handful of European Summer festival appearances for 2017. During each of these shows Emperor will be performing the Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk album in its entirety.

August
4 - Wacken Open Air - Wacken, Germany 
10 - Brutal Assault - Jaromer, Czech Republic

Rockshots Records has announced the signing of the prog/power metal band Dark Avenger. 

The new album The Beloved Bones: Hell is eleven mental stages someone might go through when living a constant uncomfortable situation ("Hell Is Repetition") among many others which we inadvertently allow to come into our lives.

The Beloved Bones: Hell was produced, recorded and mixed by the guitarist Glauber Oliveira and mastered by the renowned Tony Lindgren at Fascination Studios in Sweden. The new chapter is set to be released on September 1st via Rockshots Records on all the major record and digital stores.

First lyric video “The Beloved Bones” is streaming below:

New York-based death metal behemoths Afterbirth - featuring within its ranks members of Helmet, Artificial Brain, and Buckshot Facelift - will release their brutalizing The Time Traveler's Dilemma debut full-length via Unique Leader Records this summer. New track "Drills And Needles" is streaming below.

The Time Traveler's Dilemma - set for release on July 28th on CD, digital, and vinyl formats - was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Joseph Cincotta at Full Force Studios (Suffocation, Dehumanized, Mortal Decay) and comes sheathed in the cover art of Kishor Haulenbeek (Black Harvest). The vinyl edition was mastered by James Plotkin (Old, Scorn, Khanate). As an extra bonus, Frank Rini (Internal Bleeding) performs backing vocals on the track, "Timeless Formless".

Preorders for The Time Traveler's Dilemma are currently available at this location. 

Among the earliest purveyors of brutal death metal, Afterbirth was forged on Long Island, New York during the summer of 1993. The following year, the band released the Psychopathic Embryotomy studio demo which has since become something of a cult-like classic among the extreme metal underground. Due to various issues among its members however, Afterbirth disbanded shortly thereafter the recording.

After a near-20-year hiatus however, the band reunited in 2012 and began composing new material for an unknowable future and a then as-yet untitled debut. It became immediately apparent that the creative magic among the Afterbirth members remained - it had never left - resulting in some of their heaviest and most dynamic material to date.

Not only was the music heavier and far more aggressive than it had been during the band's initial short-lived run, but new elements like progressive metal, space rock, jazz, and noise began to rise to the surface of their song writing. Following a 2014 demo and 2015's Maggots In Her Smile EP, Afterbirth is set to release their debut withThe Time Traveler's Dilemma, an otherworldly combination of sounds that shift between the discordant and the melodious; the alluring and the disfigured; the eccentric and the methodical.

Heavy, complex guitar work; atypically inspired bass rumblings; skillful, fast, and tastefully groovy drums/percussion; otherworldly growls from beyond known dimensions of time and space... All of this and more combine to form the basis of Afterbirth's current musical output. While the subject matter doesn't stray too far from what some might call "typical" of the death metal genre - murderous grotesqueries, pain, and horrors unimaginable still certainly abound - the band's vision has expanded far beyond the classic death metal template to include ideas and archetypes found in philosophical, religious, and scientific fiction/horror literature. "Just as our musical prowess had strengthened and amplified over the years," notes the band, "so had our desires to express ourselves lyrically and conceptually. Gore and mutilated fetuses are always great and rich subject matter but we've all branched out and discovered other avenues of knowledge and inspiration we wanted to explore within the framework of the band."

The Time Traveler's Dilemma tracklisting:

"Eternal Return"
"Maggots In Her Smile"
"Drills And Needles"
"Discarded Astral Body"
"Multiverse Dimentia"
"The Time Traveler's Dilemma I"
"Sifting Through The Sands Of The Unholy"
"Timeless Formless"
"Transcendental Object At The End Of History"
"Devouring The Hungry Ghost"
"Time Travelers Dilemma II"

"Drills And Needles":

"Maggots In Her Smile":

The Time Traveler's Dilemma by Afterbirth

Afterbirth is:

Cody Drasser - guitars
David Case - bass
Keith Harris - drums
Will Smith - vocals

Fan-filmed video footage of FANTÔMAS's June 24 performance at Glen Helen Amphitheater in San Bernardino, California as the support act for TOOL can be seen below.

The brainchild of FAITH NO MORE singer Mike Patton (pictured), FANTÔMAS is an anti-hero from a series of pre-WWI French crime novels, sometimes dubbed the "lord of terror." Rounding out the lineup are Buzz Osborne (MELVINS) on guitar, Trevor Dunn (MR. BUNGLE, TREVOR DUNN'S TRIO-CONVULSANT) on bass and Dale Crover (MELVINS) on drums. This marked the band's first U.S. show since 2008. Regular FANTÔMAS drummer Dave Lombardo (ex-SLAYER) was unable to make the Glen Helen Amphitheater concert due to his touring commitments with SUICIDAL TENDENCIES.

FANTÔMAS hasn't released an album since 2005's "Suspended Animation".

"Suspended Animation" contained 30 tracks, each titled after a different day in the month of April.

FANTÔMAS' three previous releases regaled listeners with a sci-fi homage ("Fantômas", 1999), a celebration of the best in film composition ("The Director's Cut", 2001) and a one-song album ("Delirium Cordia", 2004).

Original BLACK SABBATH drummer Bill Ward says that he is "at peace" with his former bandmates despite not having spoken to them in two years.

Ward backed out of the SABBATH reunion in early 2012 after being offered a contract that he called "unsignable." It was rumored that SABBATH wanted to bring a second drummer on the road to share duties with Ward, reportedly because he was unable physically to play full shows.

SABBATH's most recent touring drummer was Tommy Clufetos, who is also in Ozzy's solo band.

"I've gone through a lot of tears," Ward told Rolling Stone. "I've grieved the loss of three of my best friends. I've grieved the loss of their company, their words, their laughter, their joy, and above all, their music. ... I've grieved the loss of the fans, and I've grieved the pain of what all this has created."

Ward, who has said several times that the contract he was offered to join the SABBATH reunion was "impossible to sign," has decided to move on with a positive attitude. "I can't afford to have resentment," he explained. "I can't afford to be angry. I can't afford these things spiritually or physically. So I knew I had to be rid of them."

SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler appeared in public with Ward for the first time since late 2011 at the Ivor Novello Awards in London, England in May 2015. The members of the legendary metal act were on hand to accept a Lifetime Achievement Award.

"It was cordial," Ward said about reconnecting with his former bandmates and friends. "It was really nice. It fell right into place, like nothing had happened. It was very nice to see Terry [Geezer Butler], and I miss Terry a lot. It was really nice to see Tony — I miss Tony, too. I miss Oz. I think about Ozzy [Osbourne] all the time. This is not to discount Tony or Terry, but probably the biggest loss has been Oz. I loved him in a very special way. That's been the toughest one to let go and to wish him farewell and happiness in his life and everything else."

According to Ward, he has had no contact with his former bandmates since he saw Iommi and Butler at the Ivor Novello Awards. "I haven't talked to anybody or written any private e-mails to anybody," he said. "I think there's been a couple of other press statements that might have gone backwards and forwards, but that's been about it, really. I'm at peace with those guys. If something comes up that I feel is contradictory, I'll always make a statement back in defense of whatever I need to defend. But my general outlook towards them is not of resentment, it's not of fear, it's not of hatred or anything like that. I actually really, really, really love these guys. I wish them absolutely nothing but the very best, I wish them nothing but the best in their lives. Every day, I say prayers and I wish for them health and happiness and just nothing but good things to befall them. I [don't] in any way... have any grudges or any arrogance or anything else. It's been like that for a while. At first, I was really upset but I've cooled off a lot. I'm in a different place; I've moved on. But I haven't moved on from the idea of if [they] ever wanted to play again. I've not moved on from that idea. That would be something that would have to be worked out. But if they've moved on from that idea, then that's fine, I'll support that. I haven't moved on. I've been told to have an open mind, so I'm going to be open-minded about it... That's how I feel about them. I don't have any anxiety about them or any tragedy anymore."

Ward added that he is "open-minded" to the idea of playing with SABBATH again at some point in the future. "It depends what it is and it depends what all it [entails]," he said. "But I definitely have an open mind. I'd be stupid not to. Time's moving on; we're getting older. I've loved them guys for a long time now. I love BLACK SABBATH's music."

The drummer added that he was a better place after spending the first couple of years mourning the end of his relationship with SABBATH. "What I'm going through and what I'm passing through, I hope it will help with the healing," he added. "I know a lot of people were disturbed; I know a lot of people were put out. A lot of people have been very sad and have had to grieve themselves. This has been an unbelievable [sighs], historical catastrophe. I think that I'll always be indebted and in regret to how SABBATH ends. I'll aways be. The only thing I can say is that I tried to stay true to myself, and because of that, I paid the ultimate price. I can only ask for forgiveness for trying to stay true to myself."

Ozzy told The Pulse Of Radio during SABBATH's last tour that Ward was not in shape to participate. "Bill Ward has got the most physically demanding job of the lot of us, 'cause he's the timekeeper," he said. "I don't think personally he had the chops to pull it off, you know. The saddest thing is that he needed to own up to that, and we could have worked around it, whether we had a drummer on the side with him or something."

Ward was reportedly insulted when SABBATH offered him a contract stipulating that he would only play a portion of the show each night, with another drummer along to take over.

DRAGONFORCE singer Marc Hudson narrowly escaped serious injury after he jumped out of a moving van during the group's Australian tour.

On Tuesday, June 27, Hudson and his bandmates were gearing up to leave Brisbane early in the morning for their flight to New Zealand. The crew was loading up the equipment outside the hotel into a van with trailer which was parked on a steep hill at the top of a long road leading to an intersection. With the music equipment fully loaded and just a few suitcases to go, Marc went and sat at the back of the van first, with bassist Frédéric Leclercq and guitarist Sam Totman following close behind. After they set foot in the van, the brakes started squeaking and the van started rolling down the hill towards the intersection extremely quickly. Sam and Fred, who were stood in the doorway, immediately stepped out, leaving Marc in the back seat with his seat belt on. The van with the trailer continued to accelerate down the hill. Drummer Gee Anzalone tried to run after the van to put the handbrake on to no avail as it was going too fast, as did Marc, who was trying to get to it from the inside. The van was headed for an intersection but was veering off to one side. Marc jumped out the side of the van a few seconds before it crashed into a tree and came to a complete stop. The van was said to be going at over 30 miles per hour at the time the singer jumped out. He since has been treated at the hospital for two potentially broken ribs, a sprained shoulder and various cuts and bruises.

Despite the severity of Marc's injuries, DRAGONFORCE did not cancel any shows on the tour and carried on with the trek, which hit Christchurch on June 28.

Video footage of Hudson performing with his arm in a sling can be seen below.

DRAGONFORCE's shows in Australia this month marked the band's first appearances in the country since 2015.

The band is touring in support of its latest album, "Reaching Into Infinity", which was released on May 19 via earMUSIC. The follow-up to 2014's "Maximum Overload" is the band's third full-length studio release with Hudson, who joined the group in 2011 following the departure of original frontman ZP Theart (now in SKID ROW).

DRAGONFORCE's "Reaching Into Infinity North America Tour 2017" will kick off on July 7 in San Francisco, California. A list of all the dates can be found on the admat below.